Delaware kicks off 2013 NFL parlay card wagering

Delaware’s sports wagering for the 2013 season is now online in 69 retail locations across the state as well as Delaware’s three casinos.

Following last years overwhelming response to NFL parlay card wagering, Delaware Lottery Director Vernon Kirk said the state doubled the number of places where customers can place their bet including bars, restaurants and stores.

“One of the reasons we’re doing this is to make it more readily available to our customers and to make it more convenient for them. So, we were able to fill in some gaps by adding some additional retailers,” he said.

Kirk said they reviewed a map of the state and found retail gaps in both Kent and Sussex counties and found more areas where they could add in New Castle County.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

He said many retailers expressed interest in adding sports wagering during its initial start last year but the lottery couldn’t keep up with the requests at the time.

“When we did our recruiting last year we had limited time to recruit and license and train,” said Kirk. “And, we had limited terminals available so we were kind of restricted last year.”

He said they were touch base with interested retailers when the state established Keno earlier this year.

“As we introduced Keno, we got into a lot more locations that we don’t normally get into like bars and those types of things,” he said.

Along with the additional retailers, the Delaware Lottery has also added the option to wage over/under on point totals. 

The wagers can bring in significant extra revenue for establishments who offer the game. Retailers get five percent of the gross revenue and a one percent cashing bonus.

“So if a winner comes in with a $500 winning ticket or 200 winning ticket, then they cash it and get one percent of the cashing amount,” explained Kirk.

Last year the state generated $25.4 million in revenue through the sports lottery compared to $17.9 million in 2011.

Sports betting at casinos was also up by seven percent in 2012.

Kirk said it’s hard to say what the numbers will look like this year.

“If we approached an increase of 20 percent, I’d say that would be phenomenal,” he said.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal